Supreme Court Refuses to Stay Release of Animated Film Mahaprabhu Jagannath After Odisha Government Challenge

The Supreme Court on July 29, 2026, dismissed petitions filed by the Odisha government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration seeking to halt the release of the animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath. The bench refused to modify its earlier order that permitted the film to be exhibited on or after July 28, following the conclusion of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra.

The film, produced by Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd., was originally scheduled for release on July 17 in over 300 theatres across India. The Orissa High Court had stayed the release on July 15, citing potential disruption of public order during the Rath Yatra and objections that the film did not strictly adhere to the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana.

High Court Ban and Initial Supreme Court Order

The Orissa High Court’s interim ban came after a public interest litigation seeking cancellation of the film’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate. The petitioners objected to the portrayal of Lord Jagannath in animated form, comparing it to characters like Doraemon and Spiderman.

The filmmakers approached the Supreme Court, which on July 17 refused immediate release during the Rath Yatra. A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan permitted the film to be released on or after July 28, 2026.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing the filmmakers, told the court that crores of rupees had been invested and 300-odd theatres were chartered for the original release date. He noted that the CBFC had cleared the film and that the same TV series had been available on a YouTube channel for a long time.

Odisha Government’s Challenge

The Odisha government returned to the Supreme Court on July 28, seeking to stop the release. Advocate General Pitambar Acharya argued that the film depicted Lord Jagannath in a cartoon form that could hurt religious sentiments and spark law and order problems.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, said the temple administration had raised objections before the CBFC. He urged the court to defer the release until the certification authority decided the issue without being constrained by the earlier Supreme Court direction.

The bench was not persuaded. Justice Nagarathna asked whether devotion for Lord Jagannath would diminish if the picture was released for children.

Supreme Court’s Final Ruling

On July 29, the Supreme Court dismissed the applications. The bench said it could not sit in judgment over art and warned that accepting such objections would leave no room for mythology, literature, or creative works.

If there is such kind of sensibility and sensitivity, and two or three people to file a writ petition, we will pass an order that in respect of Hindu God, Goddess or Mythology, let there be no art form in India, Justice Nagarathna said.

The court noted that diverse versions of the Ramayana exist across India and that banning such works would halt all Ramayana and Mahabharata adaptations on television, paintings, and sculptures.

Justice Nagarathna emphasised that animation films are primarily meant for children and that artists cannot be taken to ransom. The bench left it to the producer’s conscience to make any modifications deemed appropriate.

Reactions and Current Status

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat denied that the filmmakers had given any binding assurance to make modifications. He said the temple committee had walked out of a special screening.

With the Rath Yatra concluding on July 28, the Supreme Court’s ruling clears the way for the film’s release. The matter remains pending before the Orissa High Court, but the apex court’s order permits exhibition on or after July 28, 2026.